Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation

Bellanca Pacemaker (USA)
   The Pacemaker of the early 1930s was a six-seat cabin monoplane powered by a Wright Whirlwind or Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior radial engine of 298 kW (300-400 hp). Maximum speed with the 298 kW (400 hp) Whirlwind Model ДальшеMore>>> E engine was 249 km/h (155 mph). A seaplane version was also produced with twin Edo floats. An example of a version with a 167.7 kW (225 hp) Packard-Diesel engine was flown by Messrs Walter Lees and Frederic Brossy between 25 May and 28 May 1931 to break the world’s non-refuelling endurance record, by remaining airborne for 84 hours 33 minutes at Jacksonville, Florida.

Flight, August 1934

1934 BELLANCA "SENIOR SKYROCKET"
Cantilever "Load Compensator" Undercarriage and Other Refinements Give Considerably Increased Performance

   OF unmistakable Bellanca design, the "Senior Skyrocket" for 1934 is a six-seater monoplane. The wings are of two-spar wooden construction. Trailing edge flaps are fitted, and the bracing struts form supplementary lifting surfaces at high angles of attack. Plywood covering is used for the leading edge of the wing, preventing the fabric from becoming depressed between the ribs, and maintaining the full lift characteristics. In each wing is a 100-gallon welded aluminium fuel tank resting on felt pads. The "slot balanced" ailerons, of high aspect ratio, are effective after the stalling point has been reached. The cabin is 124 in. long, 45.5 in. high and 57.5 in. wide. A baggage compartment behind the rear seats, accessible from inside and outside, has a capacity of 15 cu. ft. Individually operated ventilation, adjustable rear windows, and cabin heater are standard equipment. By means of a duct beneath the cabin floor fresh air is taken from a point on the front wing strut and supplied to the cabin. The amount of air to each seat is controlled by butterfly valves in the floor, and the two main air ducts terminate in large outlets in the rear cabin wall, so that if the individual ducts are in operation or not a continuous supply of fresh air enters the cabin at all times during flight. The heating arrangements are carried out through the same system, the pilot controlling the mixture of the heated and the fresh cold air by means of a master valve. Heat is supplied by fresh air passing through a metal cuff enclosure or "stove" on two portions of the engine exhaust manifold.
   A new type of cantilever undercarriage is used. In this the oleo struts are mounted in the lower portion of the fuselage in "crosswise" or opposed fashion, transmitting loads from each "arm" of the undercarriage to the opposite side of the fuselage.
   A Pratt and Whitney S.1 D.1 "Wasp" rated at 525 h.p. at 7,000 ft. is the standard power plant. This engine is provided with an Eclipse direct drive electric starter and a hand crank. The cowling is of the full N.A.C.A. type firmly attached by means of a compression system wherein felt pads in individual sockets are made to fit tightly over the rocker box heads by means of a master screw tightening device. The cowling behind the engine is in four segments. An oil tank with a capacity of 14 gallons is carried beneath the engine cowling.
   The ''Senior Skyrocket'' is available in “Standard” and "De Luxe" form, both being powered by the Pratt and Whitney "Wasp" S.1 D.1. The two models differ mainly in matters of equipment, the "De Luxe" type being custom-equipped and having a specially arranged cabin interior, additional instruments and more latitude in the choice of colours and upholstery materials. Each model may be converted into a seaplane.

1934 BELLANCA "SENIOR SKYROCKET" ("DE LUXE" MODEL)
Pratt & Whitney "Wasp" S.1 D.1 (525 h.p. at 7,000 ft.)

DIMENSIONS
   Span 50 ft. 6 in. (15,4 m)
   Length 27 ft. 11 in. (8,5 m)
   Height 8 ft. 6 in. (2,6 m)
   Wing area 311 sq. ft. (28,9 m2)

WEIGHTS
   Weight empty 3,300 lb. (1 496,5 kg)
   Gross weight 5,600 lb. (2 540 kg)
   Wing loading 18 lb./sq. ft.(87,0 kg/m!)
   Power loading 10,6 lb./h.p. {4,8 kg/hp)

PERFORMANCE
   Top speed at 7,000 ft. (2 131 m) 185 m.p.h. {298 km/h)
   Cruising speed at 66 per cent, power 159 m.p.h. (254 km/hr)
   Service ceiling 25,000 it. (7 620 m)
   Range 910 miles {1 464 km) to 1,280 miles (2 060 km)